Kite-balloon



R. H. UPSON.

KITE BALLOON.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9. 1915.

1,341,248; Patented May 25,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

R. H. UPSON.

KITE BALLOON.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9. 1916.

1,341,248, Patented May 25,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

gnaw/04 Ralph JHC Ujason.

UNITED (STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH n. UPSON, or AKRON, OHIO, AssIGnoR TO THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBE COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

KITE-BALLOON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

To all whom it may conc rn:

Be it known that I, RALPH H. UrsoN, a citizen of the United States, residin at Akron, in the county of Summit and btate of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Kite-Balloons, of which the following is a specification.

My present inventionhas a generic reference to kite balloons of the general type dis-- closed by me in my application No. 104,691, filed June 20, 1916, but in particular contemplates improvements in balloons of this classand in balloons in general which will render them more stable in use; which will give them a greater lifting power for the at taimnent of increased heights; and which will offer a most satisfactory solution of the sus ension problem. I

ne of the principal objects of the invention has been to centralize the load-supporting. elements of a balloon, whether captive or dirigible, in such manner that the slung weight which the balloon is designed to 11ft may be suspended by means arranged in the vertical plane of suspension within the balloon interior.

It has been another of the principal objects of this invention to provide a double gas envelop for the balloon, the general shape of the craft appearing to be that of a pair of se arate balloons mated in sidewise fashion. he gas compartment of each en'- velop is separated from that of the other and is provided with its own ballonnet, the tail cup, or cups, being rearwardly attached conjointly between both balloon portlons.

The pilots basket is slung below the com-' posite balloon in a manner providing a centralized suspension symmetrically dlstributed between both balloon surfaces.

' Aside from the increased lift which is secured by an enlargement of the cubical contents of the gas compartments owing to the employment. of two mated balloon bodies, it

is an object of the invention to secure an increasedlift from the wind action upon the composite envelop of my newtype balloon. To render this kite action more efiicient, I make the under surfaces of my mated envelop motions of straight line -'instea.d of a curved conformation, so far as the longitudinal elements of the sections are concerned.

It has also been the object of this invention to so place the various side and rudder fins as to provide for a symmetrical distribution of the wind pressures, each of the separatebodies of the composite balloon bearing its own rudder fins in con'unction with its independent ballonnet, w ile one side fin is supported upon the exterior surface of each balloon body to form a group tending to eliminate both yawing and pitch- 111%0f the craft.

be above and additional objects of a similar nature, which will be hereinafter more specifically treated, may be accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this application.

' With reference to the drawings, wherein there has been illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which, similar reference numbers designate corresponding parts Flgure 1 is a side elevation of site balloon Fig. 2 is a plan view; and

Fig. 3' is a cross-sectional view taken on a plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

my compo With the exception of shape, the methodstion of the gas envelop which carries a dependent inlet funnel 14. The funnel mouth 15 ofeach of these funnels is directed forwardly in orderthat the ballonnet may be filled by the wind current, andeach'balloon body iseq-uipped with a pair of rudder fins 16' secured on the under surface thereof and encompassing the funnel 14. Each of the balloon portions has its independent fillin neck 17 through which extends-the cord 1 controlling the rip panel 19, while the operator of the composite balloon may also control the gas valve 12- independently of the ballonnets action through the medium of the cord 20, which is led to the pilots car or basket 21 through its individual appendix 22'.

The elevational shape of the balloon bodies '(Fig. 1)' is to be differentiated from the symmetrial stream line form which I disclosed in my mentioned prior application,

since I have flattened the bottom and given method shortens the balloon longitudinally,

although the resultant shape is approximately-the same in both cases. The effect of this alteration in the balloon shape is to cstablish an approximation, in side elevation,

' of an aeroplane-section, the upper surface providing the camber.

The two balloon bodies are separated by a vertical partition 24 which forms the central point for the suspension of the pilots basket, additional suspension lines depending from the exterior surfaceof each balloon body in the customary fashion. By this means, the slung weight is symmetrically distributed over the whole portion of the lifting device.

A single tail cup 25 has been found sufiicient to head the composite balloon into the wind and to maintain it steadily in that position. The appendage 25 does not par 'take of the usual tail cup shape, being merely a linear flap which presents a concave portion to the wind and has suspension lines 26 cross-connecting from each flap corner to each ballonnet funnel 14 of the composite balloon body, while lift lines 26' connect the two upper corners of the flap 25 directly to the tail of the corresponding balloon.

The side fins are designated by the numerals 27 and are apportioned one to each balloon, being arranged over the exterior suspension lines 28. The latter are arranged upon each side of the main suspension lines which are preferably attached to and disposed in the plane of the central partition 24. A'towingcable 29 is in the form of a yoke which connects -to the opposite suspension lines 28 at the forward portion of each balloon body, while the usual maneuvering amas ropes 30 aredependent from both of the balloon portions 10 and 11, to permit control of the balloon when near the ground.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the improvements comprehended by my present invention come under three main headings. The first is concerned with the suspension of the pilots basket, the load which the balloon is designed to lift, from the middle of the whole envelop, the loadsupporting means being alined in the same vertical plane with the slung weight. The second has relation to the formation of a composite balloon by a sidewise joining of relatively independent balloon bodies, each of which is provided with its se )arate gas compartment, ballonnet and rud or or keel fins 16, while the composite balloon as a whole provides for the common and interrelated support; of the tail appendage, and other appurtenances. The third main improvement hasreference to the shaping of each balloon body by means of the triangular inserts or gores to provide substantially the elevational appearance of an aeroplane section.

The combined efi'ect of all of these improvements is to render my kite balloon more stable in its flying attitude and to provide it with enhanced lifting powers which render it articularly adaptable for long distance mi itary observation.

It will be understood that the term composite balloon envelop; as used in the appended claims, signifies the supporting gas bag or envelop, which is constructed from a number of relativelyindependent separate units, whichare correlated in the construction to act, as far as the carrying of the load is concerned, as a unit.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In a balloon, a plurality of separate balloon bodies longitudinally mated to form a compositegas containing envelop, an air ballonnet associated with each balloon body, each ballonnet being constructed for automatic inflation and deflation in response to variations in the gas pressure within its respective balloon body, and a load sustaining fuselage arrange to suspend the load from the longitudinal center of the balloon and having auxiliary connections with each se arate balloon body.

2. In a balloon, a pair of separate balloon bodies longitudinally mated to form a composite balloon envelop; a separate ballonnet for each balloon body; a separate filling neck for each balloon body; and a basket and tail cup conjointly supported by and between said balloon bodies.

In a balloon, a pair of separate balloon bodies longitlulinally'mated to form a composite balloon envelop; a partition separating the balloon bodies of the composite envelop; and means for suspending the ently .supported by bodies; side fins independently supported weight to be supported by the balloon from said partition and equally from opposite sides of the respective balloon bodies.

4.1a a balloon, separate balloon bodies longitudinally mated to provide a 001m posite balloon envelop; keel fins independthe respective balloon by the balloon bodies to form a stabilizing group for the composite balloon as a whole, and a tail fin con ointly supported by the separate balloon bodies.

5. In a balloon, a gas envelop having incorporated in its structure a series of triangulargores spaced at intervals alon its length, to give in side elevation, a con guration corresponding to the side elevational contour of an aerop ane supporting surface.

6. In a balloon, a gas containing envelop comprising a plurality of longitudinally mated balloon bodies each of which is patterned to present in side elevation a sub stantially straight lower outline and an arched upper outline, a longitudinal partition defining the 'uncture between the separate balloon bo ies, and a fuselage constructed to suspend a load from the partition and having auxiliary connections with each separate balloon body.

7. In a balloon, a pair of separate balloon bodies, each constructed to present, in side elevation, a configuration correspondin to the side elevational contour of an aerop 'a-ne supporting surface, and a partition centrally uniting said balloon bodies to form a composite gas envelop.

. 8. In a balloon, a pair of envelops mated longitudinally to form a composite gas bag, a load to be swung below the gas bag, a longitudinal partition erected within the gas bag and defining the junction of the separate envelops, said partition being located name in the centrally in the plane of suspension for the said load, andmeans of suspending said load mainly from said partition.

9. In a balloon, a plurality of separate balloon bodies longitudinally mated to form a composite balloon envelop, a central longitudinal wall defining the junction of the balloon bodies, a separate ballonnet for each balloon body, a separate filling neck for each balloon body, and a basketconjointly supported by and between said bodies and partially sustained by thesaid wall.

, 10. In a kite balloon, separate balloon bodies longitudinally mated to form a com-- posite balloon envelop; keel fins independently supported by the respective balloon bodies, and side fins independently supported by the balloon bodies to form with the keel fins a stabilizing group for the composite balloon as a whole.

11. In a balloon, a gas containing envelop comprising a plurality of longitudinally mated balloon bodies, each having incorporated therein a plurality of triangular gores spaced at intervals to give in side elevation a configuration corresponding to the side elevational contour of an aeroplane supporting structure, an air ballonnet associated with each balloon body and constructed for automatic inflation and deflation in response to variations in the gas pressure with its respective envelop, and means for suspending a load from the longitudinal center of the envelop.

In testimony whereof I have signed my presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RALPH H. UPSON Witnesses:

.B. J. MGDANEL, L. E. WAGNER. 

